EP’s two top-ranked club rugby teams have a gilt-edged opportunity to showcase their talent at national level when the Pick n Pay Gold Cup tournament kicks off on Saturday.
Reigning EP champions Kruisfontein United begin their bid for glory with a match against Heidelberg in Humansdorp and Gardens face a tough away match against Groot Brakrivier.
The tournament will be played on a knockout basis which means every game is a life and death affair.
The 32 teams are divided geographically into north and south sections of 16 sides each, with the last team standing from each section contesting the grand final in October.
The lure of watching two SA’s best club teams in action is sure to draw a capacity crowd the Sports Complex in Humansdorp when Kruisfontein host Heidelberg.
If Gardens beat Groot Brakrivier on the road, they are likely to be rewarded with a mouthwatering home second round tie at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium in Kariega.
Club allegiances must be put aside for the duration of the Gold Cup and Eastern Cape supporters should unite and rally around Kruisfontein and Gardens.
Gardens are gunning for what would be a remarkable treble of Grand Challenge, Ebrahim Patel Community Cup and Gold Cup titles.
The Kariega side struck a mighty blow for EP when they defied the odds to win the 2025 Patel tournament by toppling crack Boland outfit Robertson Town.
EP club rugby is held in high esteem throughout SA and Gardens' triumph at the Patel event was another feather in the union's cap.
Gardens carried their form at the Patel tournament into the Grand Challenge and embarked on a remarkable unbeaten streak of 16 matches before two recent losses.
Kruisfontein, on the other hand, made a slow start to their Grand Challenge title defence.
They have, however, been gaining momentum in recent weeks and a series of wins have put back in the frame to earn a semifinal berth.
Kruisfointein have an opportunity to redeem themselves after a poor showing at the Saldanha Super 8 Easter tournament when they lost all three matches they played at the start of the season.
It’s time for the pride of Kariega and Humansdorp to stand up and shine on SA club rugby’s biggest stage.
The Herald
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